Machine for folding sheets of mica.



PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

E. COOPER.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING SHEETS OP MICA. APPLIGATION FILED MAY 27, 1907.

EETS-SEEET 1.

"1,4 :nl-1r 115,11

No. 890,500. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

E. COOPER.

MACHINE FOR POEDING SHEETS 0E MICA. APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 890,500. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. E. COOPER.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING SHEETS 0I' MICA.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET s.

E No. 890,500. PATENTED .TUNE 9, 1908.

E. COOPER.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING SHEETS 0F MICA APPLIcATIoN FILED MAY 27, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

i sheet more flexible UNITED STATES PATENT orrron *.DwARD COOPER, or NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS', ASsICNon-To. AMERICANMICA COMPANY,

OFNEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION orMASSACHUSET'rS.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING SHEETS OF MICA.

To all whom it'may concern."

Be it known that I, EDWARD COOPER, citizen of the United Sta-tes, residing at Newton,

in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a certain newI and useful Improvement in lillachines for Folding Sheets of Mica, 4of which fthe following is a specification, reference beand it is also common to form linings for commutators -by folding sheets of mica. The mica Commonly used for-this purpose is made of sheets built up in the usualway and is folded into whatever form is required for the purpose intended. When used as a cover for a core, the ooreis usually a thin flat strip, and the cover vis in form of a flattish tube formed by bending the sheet in proper form to receive the core. Invordervto make the Y for folding, it is folded when warm. x g

The object of the present invention is to provide-a machine by which the folding may be rapidly-and cheaply and accurately performed. 1

ln carrying out the invention, I provide mechanism by which the blank may be securely clamped to a holder with the blank projecting on two opposite sides, the holder with the blank clamped therein then being moved downward between two folding blocks which are engaged by the projecting portions of the blank on either side, thereby bending the oppositely projecting sides of the blank along the side lines where intended to be folded, and means by which the folding members are `successively moved inward to first fold over one side of the blank upon the former and then to fold the other side of the blank down upon the first folded fia Thejnventlon will now be fully( escribed,

referencebeing had to the accompanylng drawings,` andthe novel features will be pointed out and clearly defined in the claims atthe close of the specification. p

' ln ,the drawings,-Figure 1 is` a'planof a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation from front to ASpecication of Letters Patent. n' Appucationaiea may 2i, 1907. serial No. 375,865.

Patented June 9,51908.

4rear of the machine Online 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing a flat blank or sheet of mica on the holder or supporting plate before starting starting the operation. Fig. 4 is a section on the same line as Fig. 2 partly broken away, showing the parts as when the treadle is depressed sufciently to bring the clampt'into contact.with the blank. Fig. 5 is a section on the same line as Fig. 2 showing the treadle depressed sufliciently to bring the vertically `movable support vor holder block on which the blank is held into the recesses in the bed plate. Fig. 6 isa section on the same line as Fig.. 2 at a later stage in the operation than Fig. 5, showing one of the slidable folding members moved its full stroke inward to fold, the side of the blank. Fig. 7 is a section on the same line as. Fig. 2, showing the second slidable folding member moved its full stroke. Fig. 8 isa perspective of the vertically movable support or block on which the blank is held, the clamp and folding members. Fifr'. 9 is a detail Section showing the stops for imiting the in and out movement ofl the'folding' members. Fig. 10 is a perspective of one of the folded blanks'.

.Referring to the drawings-12 1s a circulating water tank in the form of `a hollow the pipe 17,5 and passing out through apipe 16. The bed plate 14 is formed with a recess 17 in itsA upper side which is of exactly the 'right width and,` de th tog-receive the supporting plate or ho ding block 18 to which the blank 19 is to be clamped during .the folding operation.' IThe holding block 18 is mounted fast on studs 20, 20, which extend downwardly through holes in the bed plate 14 within which they are vertically movable. These holes are enlarged from near the upper end to the bottom, forming recesses 22 within which are held the coiled springs 28`Which Surround the studs 20,' 20, the upper end of each spring 23 abutting against a pm 24 which passes transversely through the stud 2l), the lower end of the spring being seated blank 19.

on a collar 21 which is secured to the under side of the bed plate and through which the lower end of the stud 20 is free to pass.

Passing through the vertical holes in the bed plate 14 on opposite sides of the supporting plate 18 are the vertically movable rods or bars 25 which carry the clamping bar 26. Secured to the under side of the bed plate 14 are bracket hangers 27, the lower horizontal arm of which passes through a slot 39 in the rod 25, the slot being elongated so as to permit vertical movement of the rod. Surrounding tlie rods 25 are coil springs28, the upper end of each of which abuts against a in 29 passing through the rod 25 and the ower end of which is seated u on the horizontal lowerportion of the brac ret 27. The springs 28 pressing up against the pins 29 normally hold the rods 25 in the osition shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the clamping bar 26 will be held free from contact with the The rods 25 are connected with rods 30 in a manner to allow sliding action of one With relation to the other, the lower ends of the rods 30 being connected together by a cross bar 31 so that the bars 30 and cross bar 31 will move as one piece. In the form shown in the drawings, the slidable connection be. tween the rods 25 and rods 30 is as follows: Each rod 25 is formed with an elongated slot 32, and eachrod 30 is formed with an elongated slot 33. A bolt 34, which is pinned to the rod 30 as by a pin 35, passes through the upper portion of the elongated slot 32 in the rod 25. A bolt 36, which is pinned to the lower portion of the rod 25 as by a pin 37, passes through the lower.portion of the elongated slot 33 in the rod 30, the rods 25 being normally held in their extended relation to eachother, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by the coil springs 38, the.A upper end of each of which abuts against one of the bolts 34 and the lower end of which is seated on the bolt 36.

Mounted on the upper side of the water tank 12 on opposite sides of the bed plate 14 are folding members A and B, the two folding members being similar to each other, but means are provided by which their movements will be at different times from each other. These folding members arev slidable on the top of the tank toward and from the bed'plate 14.

Each folding member is bifurcated, having aniupper jaw 41 and a lower jaw 42, forming a recess 43 to receive the bed plate 14 when the folding member moves forward, the bed plate being slotted at 44 on its under side to receive the lower jaw 42. The upper aw 41 is formed also with a forwardly projecting lip 45, leaving a recess 46- between the lip 45 and the upper side of the bed plate 14 equal to the thickness of the articlev to beformed wlicn it is folded.

' Fig. 4.

Secured to the upper side of the cross bar 31 is a bracket 47 withinwhich is j ournaled a pulley 48. Passing around this pulley 48 is a chain or cable 49, one end of which extends up over pulley 50 on the inner periphery of the water tank, thence up through a hole in the end wall of the folding member A, thence over pulley 51 secured to the outer wall of the water tank, and having at its end' a weight 52. The other end of the cable 49 passes up over pulley 53 on the inner side of the water tank, thence through a hole in the end wall of the folding-member B, thence down over pulley 54 and has at its end a Weight 55. The weights 52 and 55 are unequal in amount for the purpose to be hereinafter described.

The cable 49 is made fast to both of the folding members A, and B. The method of fastening is not material. The means shown in the drawings are a pin (l0-passing through the cable and bearing against the end of the folding member transversely of the hole through which the cable passes, so as to prevent the cable from being drawn through the block in one direction, and a perforated cap 61 through which the cable passes is secured to the outer face of the folding member and covering the pin 60, the pin bearing against said cap to prevent the cable from running through in the other direction.

Pivoted to a support 56 is a treadle 57 fulcrunied at 58 on a connecting rod 59, whose upper end is connected with the cross bar 31. By depressing the treadle 57, the cross bar 31 and the vertical rods 30 will be carried downward.

The springs 23, which surround the pins 20, and the s rings 28 which surround the rods 25 are of ess power than the springs 38. When the'treadle is first depressed from the positionshown in Figs. 2 and 3, it will depress ythe clamping bar 26 and compress the springs 28 until the clamping bar comes down into engagement with the blank 19 on the holding plate 18, and thereby clamping the 'blank firmly to the late 18, as shown in The continue( depression of the treadle will carry down the rods 25 still further and also further compress the springs 28. 1t will also carry down the blank holding plate 18 until the plate 18 becomes seated in the recess 17 and thereby compress the springs 23. Until the plate 18 becomes seated in the recess 17, there will be no sliding movement of the'rods 30'with relation to the rods 25 because the springs 38 are so much more powerful than the springs 28 and Z3 that the rods 25 and 30 and connecting bar 31 will all move together as one frame.

When the holding plate 18 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, seating the plate in the recess 17, the portions of the blank 19 which project beyond the sides of the holding plate over onto the upper side ofthe folding vmembers will be bent up as shown in Fig. 5.

When, however, the plate 18 is seated in the recess y17,.as shown in Fig. 5, the plate 18 can have no further movement relative to the bed late 14, theeontinued depression of the trea le will carry down the rods `and connecting rod 31 with relation to the rods 25, compressing the springs 38. In the meantime, the weight 52, being lighterthan weight 55, will be raised rather than the weight 55 and as the cable 49 is made fast to the folding members A and B,`the folding' member A, which/is connected with the lighter weight 52, will be caused to moveforward while the weight 55 and the folding member Bremain stationary.

The forward movement of the member A lwill cause the lip to engage the flap 19a of the blank and turn it over upon the clamp I,bar 26 which thereby serves asa former, or mold as shown in Fig. 6. The forward movef `ment of the folding member A is limited by a stop pin 63 engaging with the bed plate 14.

' in Fig. 7.

-gage with stops 66.

In order to take the impact, a buffer 64 may be attached to theside of the bed plate.

In order to limit therearward movement of the folding 'member on the reversemovement, it is provided with stops 65 which en- These stops 66 are pref eralolyJ adjustable iny and out to vary the ength of stroke possible to the folding memer. 66 yare screw threaded bolts which pass through arms 67 which rise from the frame or side of the water tank.

' When the folding `member A is brought to a stop in 'its forward movement, the continued depression of the treadle will then cause the weight to rise and will move forward the folding member B to the position shown In so doing the projecting lip 45 will engage the flap 191 of theblank and fold it over to meet or lap over the previouslyr folded flap 19a. laps over farther than the other flap, the first folded flap 19a lapping over the farthest and extending farther over onto Vthe clamping member 26 than does the lip 45 of the folding member, so that when the Hap 19b is folded,

' it will lap over onto the first folded'flap '19a without engaging the lip 45 of thefolding member A. This is shown clearly in Fig.J 7. As soon as both sides are folded, the pressure willbe released from the treadle, the weights will descend and both the folding members A,

and B .will be carried back to their normal position and the folded blank will be re# moved from the clamping plate.

As the clamp bari'26 acts also as the form on which the blank is-'folded,'it is important that it be so constructed and connected with the vertically movable rods 25 as to allow ready removal of the folded blank at the end ofthe operation. One form of construction As shown in the drawings, these. stops- Preferably one of the flaps v by reference to Fig. 8.

sufficient'width Iand depth to receive the' clamp bar. TheJ clamp bar 26 is 4'pivoted near one end on a stud 71 rising from the bed plate 14, so that the clamp bar y'may be swung around on the pivot far enough to release it from engagement with the vertical rods 25 or at least to release the swinging end of the clamp bar from engagement with the slot in the vertical rod, so that the blank may be pulled off over the free en d of the clamp bar.- It is not necessary to turn the clamp far enough to entirely withdraw it from the slot nearest the pivoted end, therefore, it will be supported bythe pivot and the slot at that f -disengaged during its downward movement,y

a short guide pin 72 is provided which rises from the bed plate in such position as to be engaged by the clamp plate afterit has partiaIly descended. This guide pin does not rise high enough to interfere with the swinging of the clamp bar on its pivot when the vertical rods are attheir full elevation in order to release the clamp plate and .remove the blank, but does' rise high enough'so as to engage the edge of the clamp bar almost as soon as it begins its descent as .will be seen said pin 72 is preferably bent .outward at an angle for the pin to engage the edge of the clamp bar in case it is not fully moved back to proper position before it fbeginsits'descent.

In order to provide a guide and stop for the blank when it is first placed upon the supporting plate before it is clamped, so that the blank will be adjusted to exactly the right position, a gage plate 7 3L see Fig.. 8, is secured to the upper side of the folder B on the side opposite to that from which the The upper end of theV blank is inserted.l vThe blank will be shoved in under the clamp bar until its edge strikes true with the edge of the gage plate'7 3 and held there by hand until the treadle is depressed sufficiently to bring the clamp ybar into engagement with'the blank. The plate 73 is preferably adjustably connected with the bed plate so that the blank may be moved in a greater or less distance as may be required to regulate the width of the flap 19?'. To provide for this, the guide plate 73 1s formed iwith transversely elongated slots 74 and the guideplate is clamped to the bed plate by clamp screws 75 which pass through these guide slots and are screwed int-o holes' v. ysaid folding members, one of said tension del a former for the b serves as a formeron which the blank is to be folded, means (for actuating said clamp plate, a pair of oppositely disposed folding members, means for actuating the folding members, a tension device connected with each of vices 'being more owerful than the other, whereby the folding member having the weaker tension device. will be actuated before the other. f

2.. In a machine for folding sheets of mica or the like, a vertically movable support for the blank, aclam plate .which also serves as Yank while being folded and is of less width than the blank which is to be folded, a spring seat for said support, a bed plate having a recess adapted to receive said clamp late when it is depressed, vertically movab e supports for said clamp plate, each consisting/of two members havingl slidable relation with each other, springs which normally hold said two members of'each vertical support in fixed relation to each other, said springs being` more powerful ythan the .springs for said supporting plate, mechan- 1sm for depressing said vertical supports, op-

i positely disposed folding members for said lank, a flexible connection between said vertically movable supports and said folding members, whereby the operation ofsaid depressing mechanism Will actuate said folding members.

3. In a machine for folding sheets of mica -or the like, a vertically movable supporting plate for the blank, a spring seat :for said supportlng plate, a bed plate having a recess adapted to receive said Isupporting plate when it is depressed, a clamp plate, vertically movable sup orts for said clamp plate, each of -said mova le supportslconsistlng of two members having slidable relation with each other, springs which normally hold said two members in ixed relation` with each vother and are more owerful than the springs connected with sai verticalsupports, mechppositely disposed folding members, a ilexie connection between said vertical sup-f ports and each of saidfolding members, whereby the o eration ofsaid fdepressing mechanism wil cause the vdescent of said clamp against the blanku on the sup orting plate and then causethe escent oft e sup-l porting late and blank clamped thereto unt1l seate 1n the said recess and the continued operation of the depressing mechanism will actuate. said folding members, a tension de` vice connectedv with each nf said folding members, onel of said tension devices being stronger than the other, whereby the folding member having the weaker tension device will be actuated'before the other, the continued operation of thedepressing mechanism after the first folding member has come to a stop actuating the second folding member.

4. In a machine for folding sheets of mica- "gf said movable supports conslstmg of two members having slida-ble relation with each other, springs which normally hold said two and aremore powerful than the springs connectedawith said vertical supports, a treadle connected with said vertical sup lorts whereby the same may be depresse oppositely v i members in fixed relation with eachother dlsposed folding members, a flexible connection between said vertical supports and each of said folding members, whereby the depression of said treadle will cause the descent of said clam yagainst the blank upon the supporting p ateand then cause the descent of thel supporting plate and blank clamped.

thereto until seated in the said recess and the continued depression of the treadle will actuate said folding members, a tension device connected with each of said folding members, onel of said tension devices being stronger than the other, whereby the folding member having the weaker tension devicewillvbe ac -tuated before the other, the .contlnued descent of the treadle after the iirst folding member has come to a stop actuating thesecV ond folding member.

5. In a machine for folding sheets ofmica or the like, a vertically movable supporting plate for the blank, a spring seat for said supporting plate, a bed plate having a recess adapted to receive said supporting plate when it isdepressed, a clamp plate, vertlcally movable supports for said clamp plate, each of said movable supports consisting of two members having slidable relation with each other, springs which normally hold said two members in fixed jrelation with` each other and are more powerful than the springs coni nected with said vertical supports, a 4treadle connected with said vertical sup orts whereb the same mayl be depresse oppositely disposed folding members, a flexible connec# tion between said vertical supports and each of said folding members, whereby the depression of said treadle will cause the descent of said clam against the blank upon the supporting p ate and hen cause the descent of the supporting plate and blank clamped liol Aone of the folding members being heavier than that which is connected with the other, whereby the depression of said treadle will actuate first the folding member which has the lesser weight attached thereto, a stop which limits the forward movement of said first folding member, whereby the continued depression of said treadle will 'actuate the second of said folding members.

or the like, a vertically` movable supporting plate for` the blank, a clamp platepivoted at one end, which also serves as a former for the blank while `being folded, vertically movable rods with which said clamp plate is detachably connected, said vertically movable rods being slotted to receive said clamp plate when it is 'turned on its pivot, a bed platemovement of the vertical rods actuates the folding mechanism.

7. .Ina machine for folding sheets of mica or the like, a vertically movable supporting plate for the blank, a clamp plate pivoted at one end, which also serves as a former for the blank while being folded, vertically movable rods with which said clamp plate is detachably connected, said vertically movable rods l being slotted to receive said clamp plate when `-the clamp plate, said clamp plate in its descent clamping the `blank against the supportit is turned on its pivot, a bed plate having a recess adapted to receive said su porting plate when it is depressed, means fier depressing said vertically movable rods and thereby also 6. In a machine for folding sheets of mica ing plate and causing the descent also of the su porting plate, blank and clamp together, fo dmg mec anism and a connection between said folding mechanism and said vertically movable rods whereby the movement of the vertical rods actuates the folding mechanism and an adjustable gage plate to aid in adjusting the blank to proper position before it is engaged. by the clamp.

. t 8. In a machine for folding sheets of mica or the like, a vertically movable supporting plate for the blank, a clamp plate pivoted at one' end, which also serves as a former for the blank while being folded, vertically movable rods within which said clamp plate is detachably connected, said vertically movable rods being slotted to receive said clamp plate when it is turned on its pivot, a" bed plate having 'a recess adapted to receive said sup porting plate when it is depressed, means for depressing said vertically movable rods and thereby also the clamp plate, said clam p plate in its descent clamping the blank against the supporting plate and causing the descent also of the supporting late, blank and clamp together, folding mec anism and a connection between said folding mechanism and said vertically movable rods whereby the movement of the vertical rods actuates the folding mechanism, and a guide rod which is engaged by the clamp plate in its descent.

v9. In a machine for folding sheets of mica or the like, a vertically movable supporting plate for the blank, a clamp plate which also serves as aformer for the blank while being folded, a bed plate adapted to receive said vsupporting plate when it is depressed, an adjustable gage plate to guide in adjusting the blank on the supporting plate before the blank is clamped to the supporting late, means for actuating the clamp, and yfo ding mechanism adapted to fold the projecting side of the 'blank Y In testimony whereof I afliX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

y EDWARD COOPER. Witnesses:

WILLIAM A.v COPELAND, ALICE H. MORRISON. 

